2nd report also shows councilwoman using position to influence case

Thursday

When a noise complaint wasn’t handled to her satisfaction over the weekend, Peoria Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken attempted to use her position to try to influence the outcome her way.

When a noise complaint wasn’t handled to her satisfaction over the weekend, Peoria Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken attempted to use her position to try to influence the outcome her way.

In a second police report obtained Wednesday by the Peoria Journal Star, Van Auken -- who represents the city’s 2nd District, which encompasses Bradley University and surrounding neighborhoods -- called a Peoria police patrol lieutenant, Bradley’s vice president and Mayor Jim Ardis.

Her reasoning, according to the report, was Bradley police were not addressing the noise complaint, called in by a resident living in the area of the Sigma Nu fraternity house, 1300 W. Fredonia Ave., appropriately. The complainant, who has not been named, called three times — 11:33 p.m. and 11:57 p.m. Friday, and 12:03 a.m. Saturday — to report a disturbance.

Van Auken also said to campus police, “I’m Councilwoman Van Auken,” the report states. She then proceeded to call Bradley police officer William Merritt a “jerk” and Bradley police Sgt. Nora Fales a “liar.”

She didn’t stop with calling the officers’ names. Van Auken poked Fales in the shoulder with her finger. She also complained to Fales that campus police were not doing their job and that they were not “real” police, according to the report.

Van Auken continued to express her dissatisfaction with campus police by cursing and pointing her finger, in a back-and-forth motion, inches from Fales’ face. When Fales confronted the councilwoman about her language, Van Auken said, “You’re right. I shouldn’t have cursed. I apologize for that,” the report said.

Van Auken, who had been attending a dinner party at friend’s house not far from the fraternity house, walked to Sigma Nu with Andrew Rand and another unidentified man to address the noise complaint.

Van Auken and Rand, the executive director of AMT, did not return calls for comment Wednesday.

Ardis said he has not seen any police reports from the incident, and all he’s heard is hearsay. He added the media coverage of the melee has been “sensationalized … as would be expected.”

“I have never seen or heard of Councilwoman Van Auken acting anything other than professional and would expect nothing less from her or any elected official,” he said Wednesday.

Prior to officers’ arrival, Van Auken and several members of Sigma Nu argued about the noise level and repeated complaints of disturbances. During this, fraternity members said they repeatedly asked Van Auken and her friends to leave. When they didn’t, they called police.

When Fales arrived, she explained to Van Auken campus police responded to all three noise complaints, and found nothing that warranted writing a ticket.

Whitledge, along with two Peoria officers, responded to the fraternity house. One of the officers was called off a search for gunmen who had shot a dog on Seibold Street. Fales had been helping Peoria police when she was dispatched back to the fraternity.

Anna did not come to the scene, but called Bradley Police Chief David Baer, who responded personally and spoke to Van Auken. Ardis said he did not talk to Van Auken when she called him Saturday morning.

The squabble ended with the fraternity being cited with a noise violation and the fraternity members filing a complaint against Van Auken and the two men for trespassing. No charges will be brought against the trio by the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Pattelli.

Ardis said communication and attempts to bridge a rift between Bradley students and residents living nearby is ongoing, something Van Auken said is not getting the full attention of some campus officials.

“We are working very hard with the university to change some of the behaviors in the neighborhood,” Ardis said. “I believe President (Joanne) Glasser and her staff are committed to helping us achieve that. I have seen more cooperation from the university in the last year than the last 10.”

Leslie Fark can be reached at (309) 686-3188 or lfark@pjstar.com.

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